Active Aging

10 ACTIVE AGING WEEK OCTOBER 1-7, 2019 HENDERSON 217 Henderson Hwy Phone: 204 663 6633 COURTS OF ST JAMES 8 - 2727 Portage Ave. Phone: 204 896 1990 Mobility Aids Athletic Therapy Physiotherapy Compression Stockings Orthopaedic Bracing Aids of Daily Living 10 Queen Elizabeth Way (Main Street at River) minuksmile.com Ph: (204) 589-6329 Creating Smiles for over 40 years • Geneva 2000® Dentures • Digital Dentures • Denture Repairs (while you wait) • Denture Relines (Same day) • Complete Upper and Lower Dentures • Partial Upper and Lower Dentures • Metal Free Partials (Totally natural) Monday to Thursday 8 am – 8 pm Friday 8 am – 4 pm Saturday 9 am – 2 pm • Teeth Grinding Appliance (Night guard) • Snore Guards • Cutter Bars (will offer you a better chewing experience) • Soft Cushion Denture Base (for more comfort) • Implant Support Dentures Dental implants are giving pleasure to thousands of denture wearers worldwide. Ask for more information. • Tooth Extractions and Dental Implants performed in office • House Calls • Shuttle Service • Inquire about our Best Price Policy The National Association of Federal Retirees is the largest national advoca- cy organization representing active and retired members of the federal public service, Canadian Armed Forces, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and retired federally appointed judges, as well as their partners and survivors. If you are a member, drop by and say hello. If you are eligible to be a mem- ber, or need more information, stop by to learn why you should join us! email: nafrwpg@mymts.net | Phone: 204.989.2061 | www.federalretirees.ca FREE ARTHRITIS TELECONFERENCES FOR INFORMATION: 204-942-4892 | 1-800-321-1433 | info@mb.arthritis.ca arthritis.ca/stayingactive NOV 26 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm "Staying Active" presented by the Arthritis Society through A&O Support Services SEPT 27 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm "Eating Well" presented by the Arthritis Society through A&O Support Services To register call 204-956-6440 OR 1-888-333-3121 Volunteering helps everyone BY GEOFF KIRBYSON If you want to improve your mental and physical health after you hit your mid-50s, don't race off to the gym — sign up to be a volunteer. It's not that you shouldn't go to the gym — because let's face it, it wouldn't hurt — but volunteering can provide a number of health benefits you might not have considered before. "Volunteerism gives people a sense of purpose and helps them remain socially connected, especially as they get older and retire," said Jackie Hunt, executive director of Volunteer Manitoba. "It gives them a purposeful life and lets them live in an authentic way. They tend to age positively and are more connected to the community and are more socially engaged." Volunteering has long been looked at as giving back your time, but it's also a way to remain active, engaged and to network with others. "Any time you do something where you feel better about yourself, your health benefits will also improve," she said. There's more good news. Instead of signing up and being plunked in a job that holds no interest for you, managers are increasingly looking at the interests of would-be volunteers and what could take advantage of their unique skill set. "It's really appreciating what they bring to the organization, rather than just filling a gap," she said. If you won't take Hunt's word for it, maybe a 2013 survey from the University of Manitoba Centre on Aging will convince you. It found adults who suffer from depression but were highly socially active were 2.5 times more likely to have improvements in their moods. Some other findings: • Older adults who participated in social activity on a daily or weekly basis had a 40 per cent reduced risk of developing dementia compared those who were not socially engaged. • An intervention that combined structured social activity with light- intensity exercise, such as card games or croquet, significantly improved older adults' memories and sleep. • Older women who participated in organizational activities or study circles had half the likelihood of dying within a 12-year period compared to those who did not participate in these activities. St. Malo Quilters were given an award for their tireless efforts and leadership in providing Alzheimer Touch Quilts to persons living in long term care in Manitoba.

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